Realization of Citizen-Centered Welfare– Reaching-out Community Service Center

The Reaching-out Community Service Center Program, established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, celebrated its one-year anniversary of implementation. It had its grand opening in July 2015 in an effort to eradicate welfare dead zones and to deliver more practical welfare benefits to the citizens. By transforming community service centers from a general administrative organization into welfare service bases that visit residents in need, Seoul plans to address welfare dead zones and provide more practical services that integrates welfare, health and residents’ engagement.

>Starting with 80 districts in 13 autonomous districts from July last year, the program has been expanded to include 283 districts in 18 autonomous districts as of July, 2016 along with a new 331 social workers, visiting workers and nurses.

Seoul has a plan to increase the number of participating districts to up to 424 of 25 autonomous districts by 2017, creating a village community with active city-wide participation.

■ Implementation Background

Community Index

Korea dropped 2 places down to 36th on the Community Index, showing the devaluation of better life.

Change in Ranking on the OECD ‘Better Life Index (34 OECD Countries, Brazil and Russia)

Increasing Welfare Dead Zones and Families in Crisis

Despite continued welfare service provision, lack of social welfare workers led to failure in delivering welfare services to residents in need. There still remain many welfare dead zones and low income families in crisis without basic livelihood security. .

Lack of Social Workers

Continued increase in number of welfare beneficiaries per social welfare official

Increase in Number of Low-Income Families and Families in Crisis

290,000 Low Income Population without Basic Livelihood Security Program in Seoul

• A Study on the Establishment of Welfare Standards for Seoul Citizens, 2012, The Seoul Institute